Hearing assistance system with enhanced fall detection features

Abstract

Embodiments herein relate to devices and related systems and methods for detecting falls. In an embodiment, a hearing assistance device is included having a first control circuit and a first motion sensor. The first motion sensor can be disposed in a fixed position relative to a head of a subject wearing the hearing assistance device. A first microphone and a first transducer for generating sound can be in operational communication with the first control circuit. The first control circuit can be configured to evaluate data from one or more sensors to detect a possible fall of a subject in physical contact with the hearing assistance device. The device can be configured to wirelessly transmit data regarding a possible fall to another device including an indication of whether the possible fall was detected binaurally or monoaurally. Other embodiments are included herein.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A hearing assistance device comprising:
 a first control circuit; 
 a first motion sensor in electrical communication with the first control circuit, wherein the first motion sensor is disposed in a fixed position relative to a head of a subject wearing the hearing assistance device; 
 a first microphone in electrical communication with the first control circuit; 
 a first transducer for generating sound in electrical communication with the first control circuit; 
 a first power supply circuit in electrical communication with the first control circuit; 
 wherein the first control circuit is configured to
 evaluate data from one or more sensors to detect a possible fall of a subject in physical contact with the hearing assistance device; 
 wirelessly transmit data regarding a possible fall to another device including an indication of whether the possible fall was detected binaurally or monoaurally; 
 initiate a timer when a possible fall of the subject is detected; and 
 initiate issuance of a fall alert when the timer reaches a threshold value. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The hearing assistance device of  claim 1 , the first control circuit further configured to monitor for a cancellation command from the subject to cancel the timer; and initiate issuance of a fall alert if the timer reaches a threshold value and a cancellation command has not been detected. 
     
     
       3. The hearing assistance device of  claim 1 , the data including one or more of motion sensor data, physiological data regarding the subject, and environmental data relative to a location of the subject. 
     
     
       4. The hearing assistance device of  claim 3 , the physiological data regarding the subject comprising one or more of heart rate data, blood pressure data, core temperature data, electromyography (EMG) data, electrooculography (EOG) data, and electroencephalogram (EEG) data. 
     
     
       5. The hearing assistance device of  claim 3 , the environmental data relative to the location of the subject comprising one or more of location services data, magnetometer data, ambient temperature, and contextual data. 
     
     
       6. The hearing assistance device of  claim 1 , wherein the hearing assistance device is configured to evaluate data from one or more sensors to detect a possible fall of a subject in physical contact with the hearing assistance device by evaluating at least one of timing of steps and fall detection phases, degree of acceleration changes, activity classification, and posture changes. 
     
     
       7. The hearing assistance device of  claim 1 , wherein the hearing assistance device is configured to evaluate data from one or more sensors to detect a possible fall of a subject in physical contact with the hearing assistance device by evaluating at least one of vertical acceleration, estimated velocity, acceleration duration, estimated falling distance, posture changes, and impact magnitudes. 
     
     
       8. The hearing assistance device of  claim 2  the cancellation command comprising at least one of a button press, a touch screen contact, a predetermined gesture, and a voice command. 
     
     
       9. The hearing assistance device of  claim 2 , wherein the fall alert comprises an electronic communication. 
     
     
       10. The hearing assistance device of  claim 1 , the hearing assistance device further configured to save data including at least one of motion sensor data, processed motion sensor data, motion feature data, detection state data, physiological data regarding the subject, and environmental data relative to a location of the subject and transmit the data wirelessly. 
     
     
       11. The hearing assistance device of  claim 1 , wherein the hearing assistance device is configured to detect a possible fall of the subject only when a threshold amount of time has passed since the hearing assistance device has been powered on, placed on or in an ear, or otherwise activated. 
     
     
       12. The hearing assistance device of  claim 1 , wherein the hearing assistance device is configured to detect a possible fall of the subject only when the hearing assistance device is being worn by the subject.